" Derek Anderson hasn't said much, if anything, since being benched as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. He hasn't exactly avoided reporters, but he hasn't always been readily available to field any questions, either.

That changed after practice on Friday, when Anderson agreed to participate in a brief interview with The Arizona Republic .

"I'm OK. I'm fine," he said, when asked for his take on losing the starting job to undrafted rookie Max Hall . "I just don't want to make any problems and I don't really want to talk about what happened.

"I just know I've got to play better. I know I can play better. That's basically where I want to leave it. I just don't want to make a big deal about it and I don't want you guys (the media) to make a big deal about it."

Anderson did reveal, however, that his body is still recovering from all the hits he took during his first four games as the starter. He suffered chest, neck and other injuries and also said he had to deal with some "internal bleeding."

He did not elaborate.

"I've got some things," Anderson said, "that probably will take until the off-season to heal. . . . I don't know how I got through the first three games alone."

Because of that, Anderson said he didn't do much of anything besides just rest during the team's off week.

"I needed that time, believe me," he said. "I'm still trying to get the body right.""